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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

circumlocutionary en · ADJ

Pronunciation

  • (US) audio
  • /ˌsɜːkəmləˈkjuːʃənəɹi/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • /ˌsɝːkəmləˈkjuːʃəˌnɛɹi/ (US)

Etymology

Etymology tree English circumlocution Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusder. Middle English -arie English -ary English circumlocutionary From circumlocution + -ary.

Meanings

  1. Articulated in a roundabout manner; tautological or with repetitive language.
    • The old man's rambling yarn was circumlocutionary.
  2. (of speech) Evasive, avoiding difficult questions or key points.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
most circumlocutionary Degree=Sup lexicographic
more circumlocutionary Degree=Cmp lexicographic

Deriveds

circumlocutionarily

Translations (5)

es circunloquial (articulated in a roundabout manner) · sv undanglidande (Evasive, avoiding difficult questions or key points) · es circunloquial (Evasive, avoiding difficult questions or key points) · fi kiertelevä (Evasive, avoiding difficult questions or key points) · fi ympäripyöreä (Evasive, avoiding difficult questions or key points)